The end is near... (football relegation talk)

[Biscuit]

I am genuinely scared. I see no real reason to think we will survive. I think Sunderland probably have the worst run in, even if we have a game in hand, and I just don't think we'll find a magic spark. I reckon Norwich will survive and both of us will go down.

And we both truly deserve it.

I cant argue with that mate. Despite our current run of form, I think Sunderland have put up more of a fight but both had shocking seasons.

Everton losing today isn't going to do us any favours, they now basically have nothing to play for really. Mid table apathy should give both you and the canaries a bit of hope for those fixtures.

[snedger]

Hey, at least Middlesbrough drew, stressing them a bit and giving a probable false hope to Brighton.
Such fun, supporting my new local team, Lestah and still supporting Brighton, but am totally prepared for a massive double disappointment

[Jowsey]

I cant argue with that mate. Despite our current run of form, I think Sunderland have put up more of a fight but both had shocking seasons.

Everton losing today isn't going to do us any favours, they now basically have nothing to play for really. Mid table apathy should give both you and the canaries a bit of hope for those fixtures.

Perhaps, but Arsenal really want to secure there Champions league spot as, tbh, they've made a right hash of this season and this is now a absolute minimum for them.

Least we'll get to see different teams next season, huh?

I was getting bored of playing Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham. Visiting Burton Albion sounds like a pleasant trip to me...

[Biscuit]

Perhaps, but Arsenal really want to secure there Champions league spot as, tbh, they've made a right hash of this season and this is now a absolute minimum for them.

Least we'll get to see different teams next season, huh?

I was getting bored of playing Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham. Visiting Burton Albion sounds like a pleasant trip to me...

Oh yeah, Arsenal will fight for it in their own boring tippy tappy, hot potato no commitment style. Everton on the other hand seem to have thrown in the towel. I think there is 3 points up to grab from them and that's what could kill us off. We have to really take it to CP and AV to make sure that we arent affected by it.
Watford are just too good at the moment I think so I dont see anything for you in those games. Chelsea back on form... but they are fragile. Stoke also seem to have thrown in the towel and suffered some crippling injuries, so that could be another 3 points with Defoe on the field.
I don't see Norwich getting anything from Man U, they seem to be playing well at the moment.

My (Hopefull) Predictions:
Newcastle
Crystal Palace (H)- Win
Aston Villa (A)- Win
Spurs (H)- Loss
Total = 36 Points

Norwich
Arsenal (A)- Loss
Man U (H)- Loss
Watford (H)- Loss
Everton (A)- Win
Total = 34 Points

Sunderland
Arsenal (H)- Loss
Stoke (A)- Draw
Chelsea (H)- Loss
Everton (A)- Win
Watford (A)- Loss
Total = 34 Points

If it goes almost any other way to this then the toon go down. Looking at it again, there is some real hope for Sunderland, you get a win against stoke and everything else goes as I have said then you're safe on goal difference (unless we REALLY thrash Villa xD )

[Biscuit]

Lots of edits on that last post. What are other peoples prediction for final points?

[Jowsey]

My (Hopefull) Predictions:
Newcastle
Crystal Palace (H)- Draw
Aston Villa (A)- Win
Spurs (H)- Loss
Total = 34 Points

My only change from you Biscuit, is I don't think you'll beat Palace, I think it'll be a pretty tense draw. Palace will take the lead and you will claw your way back.

Norwich
Arsenal (A)- Loss
Man U (H)- Loss
Watford (H)- Loss
Everton (A)- Win
Total = 34 Points

I don't disagree with on this, Biscuit.

Sunderland
Arsenal (H)- Draw
Stoke (A)- Draw
Chelsea (H)- Loss
Everton (A)- Win
Watford (A)- Loss
Total = 35 Points

We're at the halfway point against Arsenal and it's shaky either side, I think it'll finish a 1-1 draw and me with no nails.

Apart from that I don't disagree with you. This is about as tense a situation I've ever seen because at least one north eastern club will be relegated. Sigh. My heart can't take it much longer.

[Biscuit]

Arsenal were terrible. Didn't really look threatening in fairness, just knocked it back and forth for in the opposition half for a while waiting for Sunderland to make a mistake and gift them a goal.

CP going through in th FA cup will give them some confidence which is worrying. My dad thinks we'll win all the remaining fixtures xD

[Jowsey]

Arsenal were terrible. Didn't really look threatening in fairness, just knocked it back and forth for in the opposition half for a while waiting for Sunderland to make a mistake and gift them a goal.

CP going through in th FA cup will give them some confidence which is worrying. My dad thinks we'll win all the remaining fixtures xD

For once though, we didn't actually make a mistake! I think for a long time individual errors have been a good chunk of our misery.

Another postive is Mannone made some great saves (and then nearly gifted the game with that ....header...thing he tried to do). But it comes down to it again, just not clinical enough in front of goal, once again.

Positive signs though, hard game at home and the defence stood up, Kaboul and Kone really starting to come together and I'm glad Kaboul has lasted a few games without an injury! I'll take a point from Arsenal, would have loved 3 and perhaps they were there for the taking?



BTW, what's your dad on? Sure it isn't legal in this country

[Biscuit]

For once though, we didn't actually make a mistake! I think for a long time individual errors have been a good chunk of our misery.

Another postive is Mannone made some great saves (and then nearly gifted the game with that ....header...thing he tried to do). But it comes down to it again, just not clinical enough in front of goal, once again.

Positive signs though, hard game at home and the defence stood up, Kaboul and Kone really starting to come together and I'm glad Kaboul has lasted a few games without an injury! I'll take a point from Arsenal, would have loved 3 and perhaps they were there for the taking?



BTW, what's your dad on? Sure it isn't legal in this country

He seems to think we have shown the form, character and talent necessary. Added to the home support advantage, which is a factor that cant be overlooked, I don't disagree with him. Having watching the last few games, we've been a completely different team and we COULD win all the games (we have already beaten Spurs this season after all ). Where we differ is that I don't share the same confidence that we actually will win all of them. I'm not even that confident that we'll beat Villa.... I mean we probably will but.... who knows....

God I do love Rafa though. Finally the club gets the kind of manager who understands what it means to be there.

[Biscuit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36144620

This matters to us....



Screws my bloody fantasy team though.

[Jowsey]

He seems to think we have shown the form, character and talent necessary. Added to the home support advantage, which is a factor that cant be overlooked, I don't disagree with him. Having watching the last few games, we've been a completely different team and we COULD win all the games (we have already beaten Spurs this season after all ). Where we differ is that I don't share the same confidence that we actually will win all of them. I'm not even that confident that we'll beat Villa.... I mean we probably will but.... who knows....

God I do love Rafa though. Finally the club gets the kind of manager who understands what it means to be there.

Anything could happen in the next 3 weeks. I'll just have to wait and see if I can face returning to the office any time soon (I work in the shadow of St James park) and there is a majority of mags in the office and if you relegate us I just couldn't face it.

The loss of Alli would be a big one, but I still think Spurs will annihilate you if the title chase is still on by then. I'm scared that Leicester may finish the race before you play Spurs in which case they would only need 2 points from 3 games to mathematically secure Champions league football but I think they've more or less got it in the bag. They may just have given up by the time they face you, which isn't great for me!

Also, slightly off topic, did you see the outcome of the FA investigation about the scuffle in our technical area?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36144945

Our player basically gets pushed into the advertising boards face first and it all goes a bit barmy but the Norwich lot run into our technical area and we both get fined £30,000? I feel like there was no real splitting of guilt, especially since Norwich contested it! You do that to someone in real life and you'll be facing charges of battery! Barmy.

/Rant

[Biscuit]

Anything could happen in the next 3 weeks. I'll just have to wait and see if I can face returning to the office any time soon (I work in the shadow of St James park) and there is a majority of mags in the office and if you relegate us I just couldn't face it.

The loss of Alli would be a big one, but I still think Spurs will annihilate you if the title chase is still on by then. I'm scared that Leicester may finish the race before you play Spurs in which case they would only need 2 points from 3 games to mathematically secure Champions league football but I think they've more or less got it in the bag. They may just have given up by the time they face you, which isn't great for me!

Also, slightly off topic, did you see the outcome of the FA investigation about the scuffle in our technical area?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36144945

Our player basically gets pushed into the advertising boards face first and it all goes a bit barmy but the Norwich lot run into our technical area and we both get fined £30,000? I feel like there was no real splitting of guilt, especially since Norwich contested it! You do that to someone in real life and you'll be facing charges of battery! Barmy.

/Rant

I think it was this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PssTxs8qp00

I can see your position on the matter but equally, big Sam did get a little too physical.

[Jowsey]

I think it was this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PssTxs8qp00

I can see your position on the matter but equally, big Sam did get a little too physical.

People have hands all over people and were jostling them, he just had the guts to actually push someone. There's also a small delay in his reaction which leads me to believe someone said something, but that's not important

I think the Norwich lot should be lucky that they got this seasons Cattermole and not Cattermole from 2 or 3 years ago.

I can just imagine him kicking off and setting off M'Vila (who was sent off for a headbutt last August, funnilily enough against the Norwich under 21's!!) and a two man team wrecking occurring.

All in all, I'm kind of surprised where it stopped!

Nervous for tomorrow yet? I sure am...

[Biscuit]

People have hands all over people and were jostling them, he just had the guts to actually push someone. There's also a small delay in his reaction which leads me to believe someone said something, but that's not important

I think the Norwich lot should be lucky that they got this seasons Cattermole and not Cattermole from 2 or 3 years ago.

I can just imagine him kicking off and setting off M'Vila (who was sent off for a headbutt last August, funnilily enough against the Norwich under 21's!!) and a two man team wrecking occurring.

All in all, I'm kind of surprised where it stopped!

Nervous for tomorrow yet? I sure am...

Like I said, I can see you're position completely.

I'm nervous as hell. I hope whichever team stays up this season (assuming it is one of us) sorts their goddamn crap out and starts running things properly. Both of us now have a manager that can stabilise the clubs and think about at least competing with the top 10 rather than scrapping out with the clubs who are up and down all the time at the bottom (although if we do go down again I think its fair to say that we are one of them or will likely become one...).

[Jowsey]

My nerves are shot. What have we done to ourselves. Everton has just become a must win. I'm going to need therapy at the end of this month.

[Biscuit]

My nerves are shot. What have we done to ourselves. Everton has just become a must win. I'm going to need therapy at the end of this month.

You're not the only one mate, definitely not the only one

Spurs are making it hard for themselves aswell. Alli already banned for the rest of the season and now Dembele running the risk after raking Costa's eyes out. He might just escape it under that daft rule about in match officials seeing the offense but if not, its good for us